
Former Ireland youth international Roland Idowu seals permanent move to St Mirren after successful loan spell
Middlesbrough goalkeeper Hemming returned to Paisley for a second loan spell in January and helped Saints to a third consecutive top-six finish in the William Hill Premiership. Alebiosu also arrived in January from Belgian side Kortrijk.
Irish attacker Idowu, who netted four goals in 34 appearances on a season-long loan from Shrewsbury, joined the Buddies permanently on Thursday.
In an end-of-season squad update issued before Idowu's move was confirmed, St Mirren said: 'Ryan Alebiosu, Zach Hemming and Roland Idowu all return to their respective parent clubs following the expiry of their loan deals.
'Discussions are ongoing with all three players' parent clubs as we look to bring them back to the club for next season.
'The club is continuing the hard work behind the scenes to add to the core of players already under contract for next season.'
Saints have triggered their obligation to buy Killian Phillips from Crystal Palace after an impressive loan spell for the midfielder.
'The 23-year-old, who has just received his first call up for Republic of Ireland, will be under contract until summer 2026,' the statement said. 'The club also holds a year option to extend the deal until summer 2027.
Dennis Adeniran, Caolan Boyd-Munce, Elvis Bwomono, Owen Foster, Gallagher Lennon and Richard Taylor will move on following the end of their contracts.
Taylor and Boyd-Munce have been key players this season but the club could not deliver contract offers to match alternative options.
Midfielder Boyd-Munce said in a club video: 'It's a very special place. My son was born here, we grew as a family here, and as a person. There are people here who will always be very close to me and I've loved every minute.'

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RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Bundee Aki: Lions must 'bounce back quickly' after defeat by Pumas
Bundee Aki insists the British and Irish Lions must recover rapidly after seeing their goal of completing an unbeaten tour thwarted even before arriving in Australia. The Lions slipped to a 28-24 defeat against Argentina in Dublin as they lost their tour opener for the first time since 1971, albeit against dangerous opponents whose surgical finishing demonstrated why they are ranked fifth in the world. Andy Farrell's men fly to Perth on Saturday and have four weeks to find the improvements needed to turn their ambitious but error-strewn performance into a formula capable of toppling the Wallabies. "Faz set out the aim for us to win every single game. To not be able to come out with the result that we wanted in the first game…this has got to be one of those things that we learn from quickly," Aki said. "We're adults, we're old enough to be able to take it on the chin and move on quickly. Faz gives it to us straight, there's no mucking around or no hiding here, he just tells you how it is. "There's no point in trying to sulk about it. If we bounce back quickly and try to get better every single day, this will only make us stronger and tighter." Aki's heavyweight centre partnership with Sione Tuipulotu generated the most excitement in selection ahead of the sold-out clash at Aviva Stadium, but the combination failed to add up to the sum of its parts. While the Ireland centre showed his strength as a carrier to surge over in the first half and Tuipulotu had his moments with the ball in hand, together they were unable to link in the way the Lions were seeking and are unlikely to be used in tandem in the Test series. "We all know how Sione (above) is as a player, he's class. The frustrating thing for me was I wasn't able to connect well with him," Aki said. "He's an unbelievable player and there's no excuses, we've got to get better as a partnership going forward. "Whoever plays – Garry Ringrose, Huw Jones, Elliot Daly – as a unit we've got to make sure we gel together and try to get that cohesiveness fairly quickly because we need to be better. "Sione has been my roomy lately. He snores a fair bit at the moment, so he keeps me up at night! But he's a great man. "He speaks out loud, which is good because we need him to be himself. I just feed off him and he feeds off me. So it's brilliant, but we've just got to be better and keep learning together." Aki, fly-half Fin Smith, prop Ellis Genge and wing Tommy Freeman were among those to advance their claims for a spot against Australia in the first Test on 19 July, while Duhan van der Merwe and Ben Earl took a step backwards. Aki admits that when they arise, chances to impress selectors during the 10-fixture itinerary must be taken. "When there's a group of 38 players from four different countries, you've obviously got to make sure you perform," he said. "Every single player that's been picked in the squad has to be able to do a job and if you don't deliver, there are guys who are willing to put their hand up and take that opportunity."

The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
'20 years later, it's incredible' - Contepomi revels in iconic Argentina victory over Lions
THE IMMEDIATE WAVE of emotion that pervaded Felipe Contepomi's Argentina players as the ball was hoofed into the East Stand of the Aviva Stadium told its own story. All 23 Pumas knew they had become legends in their nation's proud rugby lore, pulling off a win over the Lions that was 115 years in the making. The sides who had hosted primitive iterations of the Lions in 1910, 1927 and 1936 had been trounced on their own soil. The seventh meeting between the teams in 2005 had ended contentiously in a 25-25 draw, with Jonny Wilkinson slotting a last-gasp penalty after eight and a half minutes of stoppage time to break Argentinian hearts. But 20 years later, a 17-point underdog Puma outfit coached so superbly by Felipe Contepomi — who himself featured in that Cardiff warm-up, the only previous home Lions fixture — had sealed a generational victory. Advertisement And Contepomi's pride was palpable as he entered the media room of the Aviva Stadium. 'Well, you know, it's kind of a one-off,' said the former Leinster out-half. 'It's an invitational game and the last time was 20 years ago and we just couldn't beat them. We drew. Coming here 20 years later, I think it's incredible. 'We don't know if we'll ever again be invited or not to play a game like that, but definitely for everyone who has been involved in this week, it will be memorable.' Contepomi stressed that Los Pumas had enjoyed just two training sessions together in Dublin, adding that the warm weather on game-week had helped the visitors' efforts as it allowed them to drink mate — a caffeine-rich, South American herbal drink — on the terrace of the Radisson Blu St Helen's Hotel in Booterstown, including before they headed for Lansdowne Road on Friday. But the Argentina head coach didn't overstate his team's achievement, either, acknowledging that 'we took a bit of an opportunity, also, because I know they (the Lions) will be much better in one month's time when they'll play Australia. 'They'll be an awesome team because they have so much quality in there but they had [only] a few training sessions. There was a bit of a lack of cohesion and we took our chances.' Still, the victory is a springboard for the silky-looking Pumas ahead of their Rugby Championship campaign, which kicks off after the Lions tour in August. Contepomi, who spent so much of his adult life in Dublin and, as a consequence, understands exactly the significance of Lions rugby to players in Ireland and Britain, said that to recognise that very significance was key to Argentina's victory. 'It's special because sometimes you need to understand what motivates the other team, to understand how special it is,' he said. 'For me, that's being humble: understanding what motivates the other team and I know how special it is for an Irish, Scottish, Welsh or English player to be a Lion. And for us to play against the best of the best in these islands, it's nearly a dream. 'And I wouldn't say even having a win because we could have lost that game. We won it, putting in that performance after two days. For me, I take my hat off to the boys. Related Reads Laughs, tears and frustration as Farrell settles into unique demands of Lions job 'There are no excuses, we should have been better' Defeat doesn't detract from sense Lions should do this more often 'Yeah, we know there is a lot to improve but I'm so proud for the 23 but more so for the 32 that work here this week because how they behaved the whole week was unbelievable.'


Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Late goals flatten Ireland as Spain come back in Antwerp
Two late goals in the final quarter were the difference in Ireland's second-last match of the FIH Pro League against Spain today. Ireland led on two occasions, with Johnny McKee opening the scoring after just three minutes, and Lee Cole restoring Ireland's lead from the spot in the second quarter. A trio of goals in the final quarter, a brace from Nicolas Alvarez and a penalty corner from Pepe Cunill saw Spain secure the win with a late comeback. A calm and composed start from Ireland set the tone, holding onto the ball. With their first attack of the game, Jeremy Duncan drove down the left and playing the ball into Johnny McKee to deflect past Rafael Revilla in the Spanish net to break the deadlock inside three minutes. Spain's response was swift, driving into the Irish half from the restart. They forced a save from Luke Rolleston and found the back of the net from the goal mouth scramble, but the goal was chalked off by the video umpire, and Ireland maintained their lead. Ireland's effective attacking continued, Jeremy Duncan having a shot on goal with Ireland's next entry into the Spanish half, but his reverse stick shot was wide of the post. Spain threatened again immediately after, picking the Irish pocket and slapping the ball just wide of the post. A late penalty corner in the first quarter for Spain gave them a chance which Bruno Avila took to level the scoring. Spain's intensity continued into the second quarter, where they found a way into the Irish circle from the restart, but Ireland scrambled well to clear. Luke Roleston was called into action a few minutes later, his save falling to Nicolas Alvarez on the back post. With the goal gaping Alvarez struck at goal, but Adam McAllister was on hand to block the shot. Back-to-back penalty corners for Spain forced Ireland to defend, blocking both efforts and clearing to keep the game level. Ireland continued to weather a Spanish storm, with Roleston again making no mistake. A break away from Ben Nelson offered Ireland a chance to attack, forcing a save from Revilla. From the long corner, Johnny McKee won a penalty corner which Spain saved. Another counter-attack soon after ended in a penalty stroke, Louis Rowe being shoved in the back inside the circle. Lee Cole stepped up to calmly slot the stroke into the net and restore Ireland's lead just before half-time. An even beginning to the second half saw few clear chances come for either side, with the sides cancelling each other out in their respective defensive quarters. A late attack from Spain provided one of the few chances of the third quarter, with Jaime Carr, who replaced Luke Roleston in the Irish net, alive to the threat to clear. Spain made an ideal start to the final quarter, Nicolas Alvarez capitalising on a moment of luck to drive down the right flank and squeeze the ball into the Irish net from a tight angle. Ireland continued to have to absorb pressure, with a yellow card for Peter Brown meaning Ireland had to do it a player down. A breakaway from Ben Nelson yet again saw him go one on one, taking the ball around Revilla and draw contact from the keeper. The ball went wide but Ireland used their referral believing the contact was enough to warrant a second penalty stroke. The video umpire didn't agree, and Ireland lost their referral. A chance from nothing for Spain in the final three minutes saw them go a goal up, a hopeful ball into the circle evading the Irish defenders and getting a deft touch Nicolas Alvarez to take it past Carr. A penalty corner one minute late put the game to bed, Pepe Cunill flicking into the net. Speaking after the match, captain Kyle Marshall said: 'We started well and came out of the blocks nice and aggressive. We didn't get the rub of the green with decisions at pivotal times in the game, and that maybe took the wind out of our sales a bit. We were definitely in the game for large parts, we will try and bring that energy into tomorrow.' Discussing the potential penalty stroke, Marshall said: 'Ben Nelson isn't a diver. He was disadvantaged by the contact. I don't know why that decision can't just be given on the pitch straight away. Even before that there was a penalty corner.' Ireland will again play Spain in their final FIH Pro League game tomorrow, June 22, at 09:30 Irish time, with the game available to watch live on the TG4 Player.